Stop Melanarus wrasse from destroying nori?

[trmiv]

So before I added my Melanarus wrasse to the tank my Tomini tang used to calmly graze on nori over the course of a few hours. Now whenever I put nori on a rock or clip the Melanarus will shred it to bits and have to floating around the tank in a million pieces in about 30 seconds, making a massive mess.

Anyone have any suggestions for feeding nori when you’ve got a fish like this? He just devours anything put in the tank.

I swear I could throw a rib eye steak in this tank and the Melanarus would reduce it nothing like a dang piranha.

 

[Mjrenz]

You could try placing some netting over the nori with some rubber bands so it can only be taken off in small pieces instead of all at once

 

[rkpetersen]

That's just how melanurus wrasses are.
I have a melanurus and a hepatus tang together.
If just put it in a clip, a sheet of nori rarely lasts more than 30 seconds.
Huge pieces torn off and go floating around.
You could try using something like this.

 

[VJM 21]

So before I added my Melanarus wrasse to the tank my Tomini tang used to calmly graze on nori over the course of a few hours. Now whenever I put nori on a rock or clip the Melanarus will shred it to bits and have to floating around the tank in a million pieces in about 30 seconds, making a massive mess.

Anyone have any suggestions for feeding nori when you’ve got a fish like this? He just devours anything put in the tank.

I swear I could throw a rib eye steak in this tank and the Melanarus would reduce it nothing like a dang piranha.

I had to remove a Mel that I called “Pigpen.” In addition to the nori destruction that you described, mine also created daily sandstorms and splashed water out of the tank every day during feeding time. Very cool fish, great personality, but rather annoying.

 

[saltyhog]

When I feed nori I cut the sheet in half and place it in two different clips. I fold each half two times and place it in the clip. Then I take scissors and make cuts half way in to the folded nori as close together as I can. When the fish grab only a small sliver that they can eat comes off. No half of the sheet coming off at one time

 

[Rockit]

You could try using something like this.

Those nori holders work great.
I had the same issue of 80% of my nori was going to waste because it would get shredded and float off to deep corners and crevices where it would get ignored. That holder put an end to the waste.

 

[trmiv]

I’m going to try one of those nori holders. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Jesterrace]

That's just how melanurus wrasses are.
I have a melanurus and a hepatus tang together.
If just put it in a clip, a sheet of nori rarely lasts more than 30 seconds.
Huge pieces torn off and go floating around.
You could try using something like this.

Agreed, mine will do something similar, the good news is that my other fish have learned to adapt to this. I agree that rubber banding some to a rock will make things easier for you.

This is what happens with mine in my tank when the Melanurus strips it free now:

 

[pickupman66]

When I feed nori I cut the sheet in half and place it in two different clips. I fold each half two times and place it in the clip. Then I take scissors and make cuts half way in to the folded nori as close together as I can. When the fish grab only a small sliver that they can eat comes off. No half of the sheet coming off at one time

I do this as well. I have a video on youtube somewhere detailing this.

 

[Dsnakes]

As @rkpetersen recommended. I’ve got 2 of the IM Gourmet Grazers now-one at each end of the tank. I couldn’t keep algae in a regular clip with my savage tangs. Great product.

 

[saltyhog]

This is how I fold prepare mine. The sheet cut in half.

Fold it twice.

Cuts made.

 

[joeyamador]

This is how I fold prepare mine. The sheet cut in half.
View attachment 1141536

Fold it twice.

View attachment 1141537

Cuts made.

View attachment 1141539

Hmmm... weird me too lol. I get made fun of because I "over think it". But i like my food cut up too.

 

[saltyhog]

Here's a short video. They had just been fed so they were not as aggressive as usual but as you can see no big pieces come off.

 

[Goodair]

Nice idea, gonna have to try that with my foxface, lol. I'm getting tired of all the nori getting stuck in the power heads.

 

[joeyamador]

Here's a short video. They had just been fed so they were not as aggressive as usual but as you can see no big pieces come off.

I need that clip! Sad I cant justify the price in my head for it but can for a calcium reactor. Does it work on 1"glass?

 

[Jesterrace]

I have that clip and it's a pretty strong magnet, can't say for sure on 1 inch thick glass though. I went through 4 suction cup type clips in the course of a year and then I realized I wasn't really saving any money by going cheap. So I got the magnetic clip and haven't had a problem since.

 

[rkpetersen]

This is how I fold prepare mine. The sheet cut in half.

Tried this method today, works great!
I hadn't thought of partially cutting the sheet into smaller tags.
Only takes a couple seconds to do, too.

 

[PYRU]

That's just how melanurus wrasses are.
I have a melanurus and a hepatus tang together.
If just put it in a clip, a sheet of nori rarely lasts more than 30 seconds.
Huge pieces torn off and go floating around.
You could try using something like this.

Thanks for this. My fish act like a there's a black Friday sale going on. Hopefully this will help